Types of Metal for Custom Metal Fabrication

We are fortunate to be endowed by nature with the most useful metals we can get our hands on. As early as the previous century, the sue of metals have changed the way we live, paving the way for more production of maritime transportation by using a variety of metals. We have naval ships, pressure vessels, cargo ships, leisure yachts, commercial boats and more that help make our lives easier. As for the types of metals that are commonly used in fabrication, this list shows you the importance of three of the most common metals used in shipbuilding.

Copper is one of the world’s most important metals because of its strength, malleability and high conductivity. Almost half of all coppers is used for electric power and electronics, but shipbuilding and offshore industry also largely depends on copper. One good thing about the copper supply that we have is that 90% of available crap is recycled. It is shipped to metal fabricators manly as cathode, wire rod, ingot, cake or billet. Fabricators form wires, rods, tubes, plates, strips, castings, powder and other shapes via a number or processes such as drawing, extrusion, rolling, melting, forging, and many others. These alloys are of utmost importance to shipbuilders for a wide variety of purposes.

Aluminum has been widely used for many years as well in shipbuilding. The US Navy for example has been using this metal for over a hundred years. Many of their ships use aluminum alloys which are considered to be a primary structural material. With its strong but lightweight characteristics, naval ships can travel in faster speeds even with bigger payloads. Currently, there are almost 500 shipyards that build and repair aluminum ships. It is among those metals that are easier to weld and even a novice welder can perform his job with minimum training.

Stainless Steel, in recent years, is increasingly useful as tank material. The material provides greater ease in tank cleaning and inspection. Stainless steels also have a number of advantages, including reduced cargo contamination. General corrosion is of low intensity. Stainless steel also has higher tensile strength than carbon therefore a thinner vessel in ships is expected at ambient temperatures. There is also greater savings because long term maintenance costs in stainless steel are lower than carbon steel.

Looking for a reliable engineering firm for your boat, ship or yacht’s metal fabrication needs? Kemplon Engineering has an exceptional team of experts for a variety of services. Call us now to request for a quote.